Date

5-20-2026

Degree

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)

Chair

Durrell Nelson

Keywords

Worldbuilding, lore, screenplay, screenwriting, writing process, science fiction, steampunk, zombies, video games, Assassin's Creed, post-apocalyptic

Disciplines

Creative Writing

Abstract

This paper examines the disparity between the monumental success of the Assassin’s Creed video game franchise and the epic failure of its 2016 film adaptation, and how to avoid those missteps in the screenplay, The Chemist. The analysis argues that while Ubisoft masterfully integrated worldbuilding into every stage of the games' production – blending factual history with the high-concept lore of the Animus – the film faltered by treating these elements as mere set dressing. By prioritizing cinematic spectacle over narrative substance, the film alienated its core fanbase with jarring changes to established technology and a lack of meaningful character context. Furthermore, the study explores how Ubisoft pivoted from this cinematic disaster by redefining its approach to the franchise. Instead of abandoning the brand, the studio utilized the failure as an opportunity to shift toward lore-heavy, educational RPG experiences. This transition demonstrates that effective worldbuilding is a collaborative, ongoing process that must consider both the author’s vision and the audience’s reaction to thrive, which reflects the intent of the worldbuilding in The Chemist. By examining the evolution from the Desmond Miles era to the modern Animus Hub, this paper highlights how the franchise survived its biggest screen-side stumble to remain a dominant force in the gaming industry and examines how writers can do the same for screenplays.

Download

Share

COinS